Men and women are inherently different: we communicate differently, we think differently, we even express our emotions differently. Those differences, however natural they are, are often forgotten in relationships. We often want our partners to be more like us which causes frustration when we’re at odds thanks to those differences.
I’ve recognized those differences in my relationship and even started reading a book about how men and women are different, called Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus, by John Gray. That book is the impetus for today’s conversation. Pops and I talk about the behavioral and emotional differences between the sexes, and the different emotional needs each has according to Gray’s book and our own experiences. We also touch on the tensions that arise in relationships when partners realize they don’t do things in the same way.
Throughout the episode, we’ll be making lots of generalizations about the sexes, and these don’t all necessarily fall along gendered lines. It’s about individuals, and these aspects can manifest in either sex and within homosexual relationships as well. So take everything we say with a grain of salt, and feel free to take what resonates with you and leave behind what doesn’t.
We hope you enjoy what you hear today. If you do, let other people know by writing us a review and rating our podcast on Apple with five stars. And if you haven’t already, make sure you hit the subscribe button so you won’t miss a single episode!
In this episode:
[03:24] – Brittney begins mentioning some of the fascinating things she’s read from Gray’s book.
[05:10] – When was the book written? Pops asks because with time things change, and modern-day audiences may not relate to older information.
[06:54] – In which ways does Pops think men and women are different?
[09:01] – Brittney asks Pops about the emotional differences between the sexes.
[10:46] – From Brittney’s perspective, men are more sensitive and women are more emotional.
[12:52] – Is it normal for men to disappear for a while after serious conversations to “think,” then pop back up as if nothing happened?
[14:30] – Pops gives a hilarious tip to the ladies for continuing serious conversations when their male suitors return.
[16:24] – Tension between men and women comes up when we expect the opposite sex to be more like us.
[19:22] – In the past, women were more dependent on men to live their lives. Women today refuse to submit to that kind of thinking.
[22:18] – What happened for Pops to listen more to women in his life?
[24:53] – Pops struggles to answer Brittney’s question about his top emotional needs. She then flips it around and asks his opinion on what women need emotionally.
[27:22] – According to Pops’ philosophy, everything else in a relationship falls into place with emotional understanding.
[29:01] – Relating to someone and understanding them are two different things.
[31:43] – Does Pops agree or disagree with the emotional needs that Gray outlines for men and women?
[33:49] – Men can take fake praise and still feel good, but women know how to sniff that out and need any praise for them to be genuine.
[35:58] – Brittney wraps up the show with a few thoughts about leaning into the differences they discussed.
Links and Resources:
Summary of Men are From Mars, Women Are From Venus by John Gray
Season 2 episode 2: Do you know your love language?
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